Perform a mksysb client restore using NIM.

This post will describe how to perform a unattended mksysb restore of a NIM client which will be booted from the NIM master via a network interface. Prior to this operation it is necessary that the client mashine is defined as a NIM client and a mksysb image of the client has been created.

In order to perform a mksysb image restore a SPOT resource must be allocated to the NIM client and it must be the same level as the mksysb image. Using the lsnim command we can check the level of the mksysb/spot.

“FORCE PUSH” & “Initiate reboot and installation now?” will Initiate the operation from the NIM master server on the client. The NIM master will alter the bootlist order on the client, as the primary boot device will be specified the network adapter of the client machine. Using the lsnim command we can verify which adapter on the client mashine is specified in the NIM database as the network interface:

# lsnim -l power2 | grep if
if1 = EN_0 power2 0 ent4

After we start the nim bos_inst operation the following message will appear on the client.